Author: Michael Carter

Rivian has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government seeking to recover millions of dollars in tariff payments made under the “Liberation Day” tariffs that were later ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to TechCrunch. Automaker Seeks Tariff Refunds The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, names the U.S. government, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott as defendants. https://evmagz.com/rivian-raises-2026-delivery-forecast-on-strong-r2-suv-and-commercial-van-demand/ Rivian is asking the court to declare the tariffs unlawful, order a full refund of the payments with interest, and require the government to cover its legal expenses. According to the…

Illinois will reopen its electric vehicle rebate program on 1 August, offering eligible residents up to US$4,000 toward the purchase of a new or used battery-electric vehicle. The latest funding round includes US$14 million allocated by the Illinois General Assembly for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with lower-income households continuing to receive priority support. Rebate Program Opens in August The rebate program will accept applications from 1 August through 31 December 2026. https://evmagz.com/illinois-launches-20-million-program-to-expand-public-ev-charging-network/ While US$14 million has been allocated for the current fiscal year ending 30 June 2027, the number of rebates awarded will depend on the remaining balance of the…

Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L in the United States and Puerto Rico, introducing a stretched, three-row version of its best-selling electric SUV with seating for six passengers. The new model is now available to configure online and debuts exclusively as a fully equipped Launch Series priced from US$61,990. Longer Wheelbase Adds Third Row The Model Y L is built on an extended platform that increases the wheelbase by 150 mm (5.9 inches) to 3,040 mm, while overall vehicle length grows by approximately 180 mm (7 inches). The additional space allows Tesla to introduce a 2+2+2 seating configuration…

Rivian has unveiled Rivian OS 2.0, a completely redesigned software platform that will power the upcoming R2 electric SUV, placing artificial intelligence and edge computing at the core of the vehicle’s in-cabin experience. The company said OS 2.0 has been built from the ground up on a new vehicle architecture and is supported by 200 sparse tera operations per second (TOPS) of onboard AI computing. By processing data locally rather than relying on cloud connectivity, the platform allows key vehicle functions to continue operating even when internet access is unavailable. AI Processing Runs Directly Inside the Vehicle According to Rivian,…

Rivian Automotive is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in the United States that alleges the electric vehicle manufacturer misled customers about the future self-driving capabilities of its first-generation R1T pickup and R1S SUV. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims Rivian promoted its Driver+ driver-assistance system as a platform that would eventually support advanced hands-free and Level 3 autonomous driving through future software updates, despite lacking the necessary hardware to achieve those capabilities. Plaintiffs Challenge Autonomous Driving Promises According to the complaint, Rivian marketed first-generation R1 vehicles between 2018 and 2023…

U.S.-based electric travel trailer company Pebble has introduced a new artificial intelligence assistant for its Flow electric travel trailer alongside a dedicated iPhone application designed to expand monitoring and control features for owners. The AI assistant, called Scout, is intended to help users operate and better understand the Pebble Flow by answering questions, guiding setup processes, explaining features and assisting with troubleshooting. Pebble said Scout will gradually take on more proactive functions over time. Its first automated feature is an email notification that alerts owners when the trailer’s high-voltage battery falls below 10% charge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqkHETsf-wk The company added that additional…

Gasoline prices in the United States have risen sharply in early 2026, significantly increasing ownership costs for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles while having only a limited impact on electric vehicles, according to a new study by iSeeCars. The study found average gasoline prices increased nearly 46% between January and April, climbing from $2.81 to $4.10 per gallon. By May 24, national average prices had risen further to $4.52 for regular gasoline, $5.01 for mid-grade, $5.39 for premium and $5.62 for diesel fuel. Based on the January-to-April period examined in the report, annual fuel costs for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles increased by an…

A new state-funded initiative in Washington is set to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles and equipment, offering financial incentives across a wide range of sectors including transport, construction, and agriculture. The programme, known as the Washington Zero-Emission Incentive Program (WAZIP), is backed by $112 million in funding from the state’s Climate Commitment Act and will be administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Officials said the scheme is designed to support the transition to cleaner technologies by reducing upfront costs for businesses. See also: Washington State Bill Could Allow Rivian and Lucid to Sell EVs Directly Speaking…

General Motors has delayed its planned next-generation electric truck program, according to a report by Crain’s Detroit Business, leaving models such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer EV without confirmed direct successors. The report, citing unnamed sources, said the program has been suspended rather than canceled. A correction published by Crain’s clarified that GM has not confirmed the delay and that the information is based on sources familiar with the matter. The potential pause would mark a shift for GM, which has invested heavily in large, high-range electric pickups and SUVs. Current versions of its…

BMW Group said it has expanded charging access for electric vehicle customers in Canada by integrating the Shell Recharge and Tesla Supercharger networks into its My BMW and MINI mobile apps. The move will allow BMW and MINI battery-electric vehicle drivers to access participating charging stations through a single account and include those chargers in route planning across Canada and the United States, the company said. Shell Recharge’s network includes charging stations operated by Shell as well as access to third-party providers including FLO, ChargePoint, Circuit électrique, BC Hydro and EV Connect Canada. BMW said compatible Tesla Supercharger locations are…

BMW of North America reported a decline in first-quarter vehicle deliveries for 2026, as strong growth in sport utility vehicle sales was offset by weaker passenger car and electrified vehicle demand. The company delivered 84,231 vehicles in the United States between January 5 and March 31, down 3.9% from 87,615 units in the same period a year earlier. Sales of BMW’s light truck segment, which includes its X-series sport utility vehicles, rose 9.5% year-on-year to 48,173 units. The increase reflects continued demand for crossovers and SUVs among U.S. consumers, supported by updates across the brand’s lineup. In contrast, passenger car…

General Motors has suspended production at its Factory Zero electric vehicle plant in Detroit-Hamtramck for four weeks, placing around 1,300 workers on temporary layoff as it adjusts output to weaker-than-expected demand. The company said production was halted on March 16 and is scheduled to resume on April 13. “Factory ZERO will temporarily adjust production to align EV production with market demand,” a GM spokesperson said. “Impacted employees will be placed on a temporary layoff and may be eligible for subpay and benefits in accordance with the GM-UAW national contract.” Factory Zero produces several of GM’s flagship electric models, including the…

Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the United States declined sharply in the first quarter of 2026 following the expiration of federal incentives, according to new data from Cox Automotive. The firm reported that new BEV registrations fell 28% year-on-year to 212,600 units in Q1, compared with 296,304 units in the same period of 2025. The figures mark the first full quarter reflecting market conditions after the federal EV tax credit ended last autumn. See also: EU Electric Car Registrations Rise 20.6% in February, ACEA Says Despite the drop in volumes, EVs maintained a stable share of 5.8% of total new…

Toyota said it will invest $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations, with the bulk of the funding earmarked for its Kentucky plant as the company prepares to expand electric vehicle production in the country. Around $800 million will be allocated to the Georgetown facility in Kentucky to support the production of a second battery-electric model for the U.S. market, alongside upgrades for existing combustion models such as the Toyota Camry and Toyota RAV4. The automaker has not disclosed details about the upcoming electric model. Industry speculation suggests it could include an electric SUV based on the RAV4, a larger…

Ionna has opened its 100th fast-charging location in the United States, marking a key milestone two years after its formation by a consortium of major global automakers. The joint venture—backed by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota—has deployed nearly 1,000 charging points across its first 100 sites, averaging about 10 chargers per location. Ionna said an additional 340 charging hubs, representing roughly 3,700 charging points, are already under contract and in advanced planning or implementation stages. This brings the total number of contracted chargers to around 4,700 nationwide. Recent sites have opened in locations including Forest…

Lucid Motors outlined initial details of its upcoming mid-size electric vehicle lineup, including two sport utility vehicles and a robotaxi concept, as the company seeks to expand beyond the premium segment and improve its path to profitability. The U.S.-based electric vehicle maker said the new range will include three model series, two of which will be SUVs named Lucid Cosmos and Lucid Earth. The Cosmos is positioned as a sportier offering, while the Earth will focus on balancing performance and practicality. A third, as-yet-unnamed model is expected to cater to more off-road-oriented use cases, according to company disclosures during a…

The revival of the Scout brand by Volkswagen could take longer than initially planned, with the first vehicles expected to reach customers in 2028, according to Scott Keogh. Speaking during a discussion with members of the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, Keogh suggested that customer deliveries would occur later than the previously anticipated 2027 timeline. “When do I see the cars in the hands of a physical customer? I see that sometime in 2028,” he said. The statement indirectly confirms an earlier report by Der Spiegel that indicated production for Scout vehicles might not begin until summer 2028. Although Keogh…

The municipal transport operator EMT Valencia has added 26 electric buses to its fleet as part of a wider plan to expand and decarbonize public transport in the Spanish city. The operator said the new battery-electric buses have entered service, although details about the exact manufacturers and models were not disclosed. A press image released alongside the announcement shows several MAN Lion’s City E vehicles in the standard 12-metre configuration. In a LinkedIn post, EMT Valencia described the delivery as consisting of 26 battery-electric buses. However, information published on the website of the City of Valencia refers to 26 electric…

Subaru has introduced hands-free highway driving capability in the 2026 Subaru Outback Touring and 2026 Subaru Outback Touring XT, marking the first time the automaker has offered a hands-free driving system on one of its vehicles. The feature, called EyeSight Highway Hands-Free Assist, allows limited hands-free driving at speeds of up to 85 mph on most interstate highways in the United States. According to Subaru, the system is available as a standard feature on Outback Touring models produced after January 19, 2026. Owners of compatible vehicles produced earlier can activate the function through a free software update. The system operates…

NFI Group has opened a new Customer Acceptance and Delivery (CAD) facility in Winnipeg, enabling full domestic production of heavy-duty transit buses in Canada for the first time in 15 years, including battery-electric models. The new site is expected to increase production capacity for the company’s New Flyer brand buses in Winnipeg by up to 240 equivalent units annually by 2027, with about four vehicles projected to enter production each week. NFI Group manufactures buses and coaches under several brands, including New Flyer, Alexander Dennis and Motor Coach Industries (MCI). According to the company, the facility allows New Flyer buses…